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CIHR-IHDCYH invests in new reproductive, child and maternal health projects

Researchers across the country will use existing resources to carry out innovative research

OTTAWA, Ontario, June 28, 2017 – The CIHR Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health (CIHR-IHDCYH) is pleased to announce an investment of $1.85 million to fund 25 one-year research projects that will use existing data and biospecimens to answer novel research questions and test innovative hypotheses that have the potential to improve reproductive, child and maternal health outcomes. Initially planned as an investment in 10 grants, CIHR-IHDCYH was able to secure additional funding to bring the total number of grants to 25.

Two researchers at CHU Sainte-Justine were awarded financial support. Maryse Bouchard for her project "Perinatal Exposure to Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) and Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) and Weight Gain Trajectory in Children: Data from the Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals (MIREC) cohort" and Catherine Herba for her project "Maternal stress, depression and anxiety during pregnancy and associations with biomarkers of stress in a Canadian pregnancy cohort".

“The reproductive, maternal, and child health research community in Canada has a strong track record in establishing cohorts and databases to conduct high impact research,” says Dr. Shoo Lee, Scientific Director, CIHR-IHDCYH. “This initiative provides a cost-effective mechanism to support continued innovative work within these established resources. We were very pleased to be able to award more than double the amount of funding planned when the competition was launched, with a 28% funding rate.”

A significant amount of research investment has been made to establish multiple patient cohorts and databases within Canada. This wealth of information has the potential to answer research questions that go beyond those for which the data or samples were originally collected.

The funded investigators will build upon this extensive resource to conduct research within CIHR- IHDCYH’s six research investment themes: Developmental Origins of Health and Disease through the Lifespan; Preterm Birth; Environmental Health; Healthy Pregnancy; Integrated Child and Youth Research and Health Services; and/or Mental Health.

About the CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center

CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center is a leading mother-child research institution affiliated with Université de Montréal. It brings together more than 204 research investigators, including over 90 clinician-scientists, as well as 360 graduate and postgraduate students focused on finding innovative prevention means, faster and less invasive treatments, as well as personalized approaches to medicine. The Center is part of CHU Sainte-Justine, which is the largest mother-child center in Canada and second most important pediatric center in North America. More on research.chusj.org